Gawai Dayak Greeting Card

CELEBRATE GAWAI DAYAK FESTIVAL WITH THIS APP

Gawai Dayak Festival Greeting Card App is an easy to use software which allows you to customize your own greeting cards or choose ready made cards to send to your love onces, family members and friends. If you don’t feel like writing your own wishes, you can just select the readymade cards that has been nicely designed for you..

To select the ready made cards in Gawai Dayak Festival Greeting Card app is as follows:

1. Choose a card 

 2. Tap on 'Customize' to add a greeting message

 3. Type your message and your name/email, then tap on 'Done'

 4. Preview your Greeting Card and tap on 'Send'

 5. Select "Send by Email" or "Post on Facebook"

You can send via this Gawai Dayak Festival Greeting Card app with email, sms, Facebook etc.

As per in Wikipedia, Gawai Dayak is an annual festival celebrated by the Dayak people in Sarawak, Malaysia and West Kalimantan, Indonesia on 31 May and 1 June. It is a public holiday in Sarawak and is both a religious and a social occasion recognised since 1957.

Gawai Dayak was the concept of the radio producers Tan Kingsley and Owen Liang taken up by the Dayak community. The British colonial government refused to recognise Dayak Day until 1962. They called it Sarawak Day for the inclusion of all Sarawakians as a national day, regardless of ethnic origin.

On 1 June 1963, Datuk Michael Buma, a Betong native, hosted the celebrations of the first Gawai Dayak at his home at Siol Kandis, Kuching. On 25 September 1964, Sarawak Day was gazetted as a public holiday acknowledging the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. The holiday was first celebrated on 1 June 1965 and it became a symbol of unity, aspiration and hope for the Dayak community. It is an integral part of Dayak social life. It is a thanksgiving day marking a bountiful harvest and a time to plan for the new farming season or other endeavours ahead.

Celebrated with enthusiasm across Sarawak both in cities and rural villages, Gawai Dayak is a multi-day festival to honor the indigenous people. Gawai Dayak translates to "Dayak Day"; the Dayak people include the Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit and Murut tribes which once roamed Sarawak and relieved unsuspecting traders of their heads.

Although steeped in headhunting traditions of the past, the only head removed these days during Gawai Dayak belongs to a chicken sacrificed to honor a successful rice harvest.

More than just a touristy demonstration of indigenous culture for tourists, Gawai Dayak is celebrated with genuine joy and enthusiasm. Weddings take place, singing and toasts fill the air, and families are reunited with one another after being separated all year.

The Traditional Gawai Dayak Ceremony

Unless advertised otherwise, the opening ceremonies for Gawai Dayak in villages are typically closed to tourists. The festival begins on the evening of May 31 with traditional music and Muai Antu Rua - a ritual aimed at keeping the spirit of greed from ruining the celebration. During Muai Antu Rua two men drag a basket along the longhouse; families in each room throw clothing and household items into the basket. The basket is later dumped on the ground as a "sacrifice" to prevent interference from evil spirits.

At sundown, the festival chief sacrifices a chicken to show thanks for a good harvest and to ask the same for next year's rice harvest. Dinner - usually accompanied by bamboo-steamed rice and sweet cakes made from coconut milk - is served after the sacrifice. Just before midnight a procession known as the Ngalu Petara passes by seven times to welcome the friendly spirit gods to the festival. At midnight, the festival chief holds a toast with tuak - locally-brewed rice wine - for long life. The festival turns into an informal free-for-all following the toast with dancing, singing, and drinking.

Enjoy this Gawai Dayak Festival Greeting Card app and download now while its free.

***ULTIMATE GAWAI DAYAK FESTIVAL GREETING CARDS***